Crush the King (Crown of Shards #3)(18)

“The two of us have had our issues,” Diante continued. “But Nico is a fine warrior, and he deserves to be in the tournament. All I’m asking is that you judge my grandson on his own merits, and not on mine.”

I kept eyeing her, but once again, she seemed sincere, and she smelled strongly of lime truthfulness. More important, she was right. I should judge Nico on his own skills, and not on the problems I had with his grandmother.

“Very well. Nico will be an excellent addition to the tournament, as well as the archery competition. You can inform him of my decision, and tell him to report to the royal lawn in the morning to train with Paloma and the others.”

Diante dropped into a respectful curtsy. “Thank you, my queen.”

She straightened, but instead of leaving now that she’d gotten what she wanted, she stared at the platform in the distance. Her golden gaze flicked from one dead body to the next, and a thoughtful expression creased her face. “You’re doing the right thing displaying the geldjagers like this.”

Her approval surprised me. “Why would you say that?”

She turned toward me. “Because the DiLucris are one of the biggest threats to Bellona. They covet our land and tearstone mines just like the Mortans do. My family has had several run-ins with the DiLucris over the years, and their geldjagers have killed many of my people. Men, women, children.”

The scent of hot, peppery anger blasted off her, searing my nose with its sudden, sharp intensity. Diante owned fruit orchards in the southern districts, many of which bordered the Summanus River close to Fortuna Island where the DiLucris made their home.

“In some ways, the DiLucris are even worse than the Mortans,” Diante continued, her voice dripping with disgust. “They don’t care about tradition or honor or playing the long game with their enemies. They just butcher and pillage whenever the mood strikes them. Two years ago, a group of geldjagers burned one of my pear orchards to the ground. Not because my people had done anything to them, but just because it amused them. Just because they wanted to watch the trees burn.”

She fell silent, but memories darkened her eyes, and more peppery anger surged off her, along with a strong note of salty grief. This was by far the most open, honest, and vulnerable Diante had ever been in my presence, although the cynical part of me couldn’t help but think that it was a carefully scripted act in order to manipulate me into doing whatever it was that she wanted.

“I’ve never heard you speak about anyone like this before, especially not a family as powerful as the DiLucris,” I said, trying to determine her motives.

She shrugged again. “That’s because I never had anyone willing to listen before.”

“What do you mean?”

“When I told Cordelia about the geldjagers, she said that the DiLucris were too rich, too far away from Svalin, and too well guarded on their island to attack. She did nothing.” Diante spat out the last word, then drew in a breath, visibly trying to rein in her temper. “But tonight, you actually did something.”

“I didn’t do it for you.”

She shrugged yet again. “I know, but I appreciate it all the same.”

I drew in a breath, tasting her scent, but she still reeked of lime truthfulness. She really was glad that the geldjagers were dead and on display. They must have killed someone she deeply loved, for her to despise them this much.

However, I still wondered why she was being so candid. Was she trying to warn me to be careful during the Regalia, since the Games were being held on the DiLucris’ island? Was she hinting that the DiLucris were in league with the Mortans? Was she trying to push me into going after the DiLucris? Or did she have some other plan in mind?

“May I offer you some advice, my queen?” Diante asked, although she didn’t wait for my agreement before speaking again. “Since you have picked this path, you need to continue on it, especially during the Regalia. Be bold, daring, brutal, and above all merciless. It’s the only way anyone is going to take you seriously.”

“I don’t need a reminder of just how little people think of me, both here in Bellona and abroad.” My voice came out louder and harsher than I had intended, and my cheeks burned with embarassment, despite the cool night air.

Diante dipped her head in apology. “I meant no disrespect. Truly. I have come to think quite a lot of you over the past few months, Everleigh. So have the other nobles. It’s the fools like Fullman who continue to underestimate you.”

She gestured up at the palace columns in the distance. “You rather remind me of a caladrius. Such a normal, innocent, quiet facade, but so much raw power lurking underneath. I admire how you hid your true strength from everyone at court. Smart of you to play that long game, especially when Vasilia was alive.”

“But?” I asked, still wondering where she was going with this.

“But the time for hiding has passed. Something I think you already know, given your order to display the geldjagers’ bodies. It is time to show your true strength, Everleigh, when it comes to both your reign and your magic. And it is especially time for you to play your own long game.”

Her words mirrored my own thoughts, although I would never tell her so.

“Why, I think you could be one of the finest queens Bellona has ever known, if . . .” She deliberately let her voice trail off.

I sighed and asked the inevitable question. “If what?”